Performance evaluation of gas based power plants and feasibility studies of their integration with solar PV
Student name: Mr Rahul Raju Dusa
Guide: Prof R L Sawhney
Year of completion: 2012
Host Organisation: Industrial Energy Efficiency (TERI), Bangalore
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr G R Narasimha Rao
Abstract: The energy demand and supply gap in the developing countries like India is burgeoning. Strategies
are being developed and policies are being framed to curb this growing issue. The use of energy
efficient methodologies and encouraging renewable energy is inevitable. However the potential
routes of integrating the energy efficiency with renewable energy is not widely explored.
The study is a part of two comprehensive energy audits done for GMR Vemagiri and Kakinada gas
power plants. The study intends to assess general performance of gas based power plants in the KG
Basin and few in Tamil Nadu. The study digs deeper into the performance of the GMR Vemagiri gas
power plant. The feasibility of generating power by integrating solar PV at these power plants was
then studied. A greater potential of these kinds of projects has been seen where even the industries
are eager to implement such methods. The targets set under PAT mechanism indicate the relatively
good performance of the GMR Vemagiri plant. One of the major criteria was exploring the ways of
earning ESCERTs along with the reduction in the energy consumption and costs.
The study results in identifying a total of 15.43 lakh units of electrical energy saving potential with an
annual cost savings of up to Rest. 46.29 Lakhs for GMR Vemagiri gas plant. A potential of 9 MW
from solar PV at Vemagiri with a payback period of 7 years is seen. A potential of 6 MW from solar
PV at Kakinada plant with a probable payback period of 10 years is expected.
Key words: Energy efficient methodologies, renewable energy, solar PV, energy saving potential, gas
power plant.
